HORTONVILLE – Hortonville High School invites the community to step behind the curtain of a literary legend with its spring play, Before Oz, by Lauren Grove, running February 12–14, 2026.
Tickets are available at bit.ly/m/HHSBeforeOz.
Before Oz tells the imaginative and deeply human story of L. Frank Baum, the creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Set years before Dorothy ever followed the yellow brick road, the play explores Baum’s early life as a struggling writer, husband, and dreamer who wrestled with failure, financial pressure, and self-doubt before creating one of the most beloved stories of all time. Blending humor, heart, and history, the play asks what it costs to keep believing in your imagination when the world keeps telling you to be practical.
“There’s something incredibly relevant about this story,” Carissa VanDalen, director of the production was quoted as saying in a news release. “Before Oz reminds us that creativity is often born out of uncertainty and perseverance. Our students have done beautiful work bringing honesty and warmth to a story about believing in your voice and your people before anyone else does.”
Performances will take place in the Hortonville High School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 12, 13, and 14, 2026 as well as a 2 p.m. show on Feb. 14.
Before Oz offers audiences a thoughtful and inspiring look at the man behind the magic, making it a perfect choice for theatre lovers, writers, educators, and anyone who has ever chased a dream that felt just out of reach.
“It has been so much fun to tell a real story about a person living out their dream of writing a book. It’s something I’ve never gotten to act out before, and it’s such an amazing play,” said lead actor, senior Andrew Miller.
